Postgame extra: fresh arms needed?

The Reds have gotten through the season with only their five starters in 44 games. That nice little streak could be in jeopardy if Homer Bailey’s shoulder is more serious than it seems. Bailey came out after 2 1/3 innings Sunday with right shoulder tightness.

“We took him out for precautionary reasons. We think he’ll be alright,” manager Dusty Baker said.

“At the end of the second and the beginning of the third, I couldn’t quite get loose,” Bailey said. “Then when I was backing up third on Choo’s triple, they saw me trying to stretch it out and stuff like that. I came out. I wanted to stay in the game but they weren’t going to let that happen.”

*Bailey will be evaluated on Monday by Dr. Tim Kremchek.

*Here are the Triple-A Louisville alternatives should Bailey have to miss a start or starts:

Sam LeCure pitched a one-hit shutout on Saturday and is 5-2 with a 2.55 ERA this season. Matt Maloney is 4-1 with a 2.72 ERA and has big league experience. Travis Wood won his start on Sunday vs. Scranton-Wilkes Barre and is 2-4 with a 4.15 ERA.

*Aroldis Chapman is not an option. His Monday start for Louisville with a blister on his middle finger.

*The bullpen is another quagmire for Baker and GM Walt Jocketty to navigate. Micah Owings, Daniel Ray Herrera and Carlos Fisher provided 5 2/3 innings today. Francisco Cordero and Nick Masset were worn down on this trip. Might a fresh arm be summoned?

“I don’t know. I have to talk to Walt,” Baker said.

Enerio Del Rosario (1.46 ERA) and Logan Ondrusek (2.65 ERA) are pitching well. Ondrusek started the season in the Majors.

*Herrera hasn’t been too sharp lately as he’s allowed 12 hits over his last 4 1/3 innings. He was one strike from escaping the Cleveland sixth unharmed before Jhonny Peralta hit an 86 mph fastball for a lined RBI single that scored the go-ahead run.

“I threw enough screwballs to him that I thought he’d be on it,” Herrera said. “I didn’t mean for that fastball to be a strike. I didn’t get it inside and left it over the plate.”

“This is really no excuse for it. Lately, I’ve been called in during key situations to get guys out and I haven’t been able to get a clean inning. It’s nothing that I’ve changed. It’s just about hitting my spots again.”

Quote:

“The bullpen has been working hard. When you lose your starter in the second or third inning, no matter what shape the bullpen is in, you’ve got a tough day. Micah and everybody threw well. We had a chance to win.” — 3B Scott Rolen

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3 Comments

Herra ought to know the batter better, or else throw that 85mph fastball to the backstop! Peralta is a streaky, fastball hitter and lately can’t hit leftys. Serious lack of concentration on his part. Mark, long, long shot but any chance the Reds attempt to bid for Oswalt, in July espcially if Harang keeps stumbling and/or other injuries? Probably not, but I gotta dream right?

Here’s what the Reds accomplished so far in May, as far as I’m concerned – when they fell behind in the 6th yesterday, I expected them to win, instead of just hoping. That’s how different this year is. Did LeCure pitch in the spring or was he always in the minor league camp? I don’t rememeber his name from Goodyear.

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